Meet our team

Our greatest strength always has been and always will be our team. The Mendip uniform is worn with genuine pride and we consider ourselves privileged to work in this industry.

Mendip has an enviable reputation for recruiting, training and retaining the best instructors in the industry. Everyone who wears the Mendip uniform will do whatever it takes to ensure your experience with us is rewarding and unforgettable.

David Eddins

David joined Mendip as an apprentice. 20 years on, he has an honours degree in Outdoor & Environmental Education and is our Managing Director. He is the vision behind Mendip and continues to push the company forward together with Jim, the original founder.

Jim Hayward

Jim is our founder and Financial Director. He may think he's taken a step back but he is more vital to Mendip today than ever. He keeps things grounded and controls the budgets!

Phil Turner

Phil, our Centre Manager, is in charge of all Mendip's day to day operations. He has a degree in Outdoor Education, is a very experienced instructor and has built up and inspired an awesome team.

Tim Partridge

Tim has been with Mendip since forever! He's our Facilities Manager and a Senior Instructor. Tim fits a week's work in to every day and in 22 year's service has yet to take a lunch break.

Mike Moxon

Mike looks after Mendip's logistics, managing the programme to ensure our instructors and kit are all in the right place at the right time. He's been here 20 years and not misplaced an instructor yet!

Garry Chilcott

Garry is our Business Manager, who defected from the lucrative corporate world to bring order, process and rational thinking to proceedings! He's even got letters after his name!

Luke

Don't tell him, but Luke is Mendip's ambassador. If we want to make a great impression we send Luke. An experienced instructor who instantly connects, builds rapport and has a knack of getting the best from people.

Paul

One of our most experienced instructors, who also has the unenviable task of co-ordinating all our training and managing our equipment inventory! Mendip has a lot of kit and the team does a lot of training so Paul is kept occupied!

Matt

Matt is our resident Disc Golf Pro and an experienced snowboard instructor! He makes things happen whatever the odds. We challenge you to throw a frisbee further than Matt!

Kayla

Kayla keeps everyone well fed and watered. She lives in the Alpine Lounge, our new cafe-bar and has a refreshing can-do attitude with military like efficiency.

Gary

Gary is our 'Fixer' and in constant demand. Kayak repairs, mechanics, electrics, welding - he can do it all, and he does it properly. If you need something fixing he's the man! (Oh and he is also an experienced instructor too)

Clare

Clare is the glue that keeps everyone pulling together. She has her finger on the pulse and knows all the gossip! If you need to know something ask Clare!

Naomi

Sam

Sam's the man who can! A victim of his own success - he has taken on responsibilities in most areas of our business. Whatever you need, whenever you need it Sam can be relied upon to deliver with a smile (and a hefty dose of his unique Bristolian charm!)

Steve

Steve cannot be fazed and will give anything a go. He has limitless patience, tolerance and a great sense of humour. If it wasn't for his hayfever he would be the perfect outdoor pursuit instructor.

George

George arrived with us having honed his instructing skills in North Wales. He has a refreshing attitude and has bought lots of ideas with him from his previous experiences.

Tom

Tom is a true down to earth gent, an experienced instructor with an inherent passion and enthusiasm for the outdoor life - we challenge you not to love Tom!

Chris

Chris is the grandfather of ski - he has taught more people to ski than the rest of us combined - and that experience shines through! He ensures the slope is always at its best and can be often found single handedly replacing matting and fixing the lifts!

Oli

Oli graduated from our apprenticeship scheme and has been a permanent fixture ever since! He is now the perfect all rounder and spends his summers on our outdoor activities and the winters on our ski slope!

Rich

Rich is our graphic designer, web designer, marketing department, photographer, interior designer and Facebooker all rolled into one. He works the hardest of all (and writes these descriptions).

Phillippa

Pip works tirelessly to ensure you are looked after from your first call or email. She may be hidden away in the office but our support team are the real Mendip heroes!!!

Josh

Josh is the estates team newest recruit! He has quickly learnt that no 2 days are the same in team Mendip and has already been dragged into lots of the weird and wonderful tasks that help keep our centre running smoothly!

Alex

Alex is our Education Coordinator. Learning outside the classroom is the best way to make learning fun, interactive and engaging. Thanks to Alex the specific curriculum opportunities our outdoor activities provide are endless.

Mark

As a former UK Team bordercross snowboard rider there is no-one better (or friendlier!) to get you skiing or boarding like a pro! (He also has the coolest van in the car-park!)

Emily

Claire

Claire's humour, enthusiasm and positive attitude are infectious - which makes her an excellent outdoor pursuits instructor. She never fails to bring out the best in people!

Ian

Ian has been a skiing instructor for years. He is one of the lead coaches with our Thurski race team, has got his BASI Alpine Level 2 Instructor qualification and is one of our specialist Adaptive coaches. If you can't find him, he'll be in the Alpine Lounge having a coffee!

Ciu

Ciu is a true adventurer and a real character! He runs our popular Thurski nights. An inspirational, enthusiastic ski instructor and race trainer.

CRAIG

Craig is one of our multi-talented staff, you will either find him instructing on our snowboard slope or preparing and serving your coffee and lunch in the Alpine Lounge. Either way, there is always a massive smile on his face!

Tim

Tim is in charge of everything with a microchip! He makes sure our phones, computers and networks are behaving. He developed our booking system from scratch and hand coded this website.

Anita

Anita is our resident expert at adaptive skiing, she is brilliant at working with all groups but especially at bringing out the best in our adaptive ski groups.

EMMA

Emma joined the team for a summer job in the Alpine Lounge and we just can't get rid of her! She has worked in the business and customer service teams and has now doubled the size of the marketing team, she works even harder than Rich (and has taken over writing these descriptions!)

James

James is our Duty Bar Manager and always leads by example. He starts first, leaves last and has yet to take a day off.

Mark

Matt

Matt has a unique set of skills. Both an experienced outdoor pursuit instructor and a qualified chiropracter - which comes in very handy if our team ever get injured!

CHARLOTTE

Charlotte somehow manages to be everywhere at once! Find her behind our reception desk, in the Alpine Lounge or out on the ski slope.

KIM

Kim is a key part of our business services team. She has taken on the task of co-ordinating our biggest bookings and is always on hand to answer your questions.

VICKY

Vicky is on hand to answer your questions either over the phone, by email or as you walk through the door. She will ensure your experience of booking an activity with us is painless and that you are warmly welcomed as soon as you arrive.

GINA

Gina joined our Alpine Lounge team to assist with our residential catering. You won't find anyone else who makes whipping up a three course meal for 100 hungry students look so effortless, or produce anything so tasty!

JACK

Jack can normally be found next to the coffee machine. Conveniently for him, and us, he works in the Alpine Lounge and has perfected his coffee making.

TEAM TRAINEE

Mendips industry renowned instructor training scheme! Each year we look for our newest recruits and after a not so normal interview process, Team Trainee are born. We put them through their paces with multiple qualifications and plenty of hands on experience across the year. Paul, Beth, Ellie and Chloe make up the class of 2016/17!

Freelance Team

We have the best freelancers in the business on standby, year-round. They have the same national qualifications and undergo the same in-house training as our full time staff - but they are also free to travel the world! Can you tell we're just a little envious???

Mendip Alumni

We are proud to have inspired hundreds of young people into life long careers in the outdoors. Our alumni include Matt Heliker, an internationally respected climber. Others now work for schools, military, emergency services, Environment Agency and charities and continue to be ambassadors for the Mendip ethos!

Mendip Rookies

The Mendip Rookies may be innocent toddlers, but they show great promise! They give us a real boost and remind us why we love the outdoors. They think they're in charge here - one day they just might be!!!